Archive for category: International call ups.

Lascelles: His stock is rising rapidly The latest England squad has been announced for the upcoming qualifiers at the beginning of October, with the usual array of names featuring. Gareth Southgate has been labelled as fairly predictable and safe with his selections in recent months, and the announcements regularly divide Premier League fans. Newcastle supporters have been impressed by captain Jamaal Lascelles so far this season, and many feel as though he deserves a call-up to the national side.

The England squad included defenders John Stones, Aaron Cresswell, Gary Cahill and Michael Keane, but there was no place for the Newcastle centre-back who has impressed so far this season. Lascelles is not only commanding at the back but has proved to be the Magpies’ match-winner on two occasions this season, including netting the winner against Stoke in the middle of September. (more…)

With so many France internationals in the Newcastle United team nowadays, I just thought I’d post a live stream for this evening’s crucial World Cup Qualifier between France and the Ukraine so you can see how the likes of Cabaye, Remy and Sissoko get on. Alas, there will be no Ben Arfa as he is about as popular as Eichmann at a Bar Mitzvah with current France manager Didier Deschamps, who was Benny’s manager when he went on strike at Marseilles.

The kick-off will be at 8.00pm UK time and the show should start around 7.45pm. (more…)

A high quality live stream of this evening’s second leg Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse’s Senegal, and Cheick Tiote’s Ivory Coast.

In case you don’t know, the outcome of this game could have important consequences for Newcastle United. If underdogs Senegal manage to overcome a two goal deficit (the first leg was 4-2 to the Ivorians), then the club could find that their only proper strikers during the ACON tournament proper, which will be held in South Africa from the 19th January to the 10 February, will be the Shola Ameobi and Academy hitman, Adam Campbell, though Shola’s brother Sammy can also play upfront at a push and Hatem Ben Arfa can act as a “second” striker. It’s not a great situation though. On the other hand, if favourites, Ivory Coast win, then we will be without key midfield enforcer, Cheick Tiote. Whoever goes, they will not be available for our games against Reading (19th Jan), Aston Villa (29th Jan), Chelsea (2nd Feb) and Tottenham (9th Feb).

Who do you think Newcastle United will miss more?

Looking forward to this evening’s game, Alan Pardew had this to say:(more…)

It's Pimms O'Clock for Pardew.Well, Wimbledon born Alan Pardew loves a bit of tennis (or so he said), and often attends the Tennis championship his birthplace is famous for.

So, Radio 5’s Richard Bacon pulled him in for an interview during the station’s coverage of the latest Wimbledon tournament for a chat. In it he talked about tennis, the recent European football championships in Poland and the Ukraine, as well as some things which undoubtedly be of interest to Newcastle United fans about his tactical thinking for next season, as well as Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, and also Leon Best’s move to Blackburn Rovers. Here, I’m dropping in at the point where Bacon “grilled” Pardew (sorry for that) on what he can take from the Spanish national side’s performances for his work with Newcastle United.

Allez HBA!France begin their warm up schedule for the Euros at 8pm tonight against Iceland at the Stade De Hainaut in Valenciennes. The match will be televised in the UK on ESPN.

A number of players deployed by Les Bleus are regarded as fringe players who can still force their way into the final French squad for the European championship opener against England in June. Mathieu Debuchy, Gael Clichy, Yoann Gourcuff, Marvin Martin, Hatem Ben Arfa, Mathieu Valbuena, Jeremy Menez and Olivier Giroud are all among those who could get a look in at Valenciennes. Striker Loic Remy has been ruled out of contention for the Euros.

Yohan Cabaye will also play but his place in the final squad is thought to be secured.

Hatem Ben Arfa has admitted he is a bag of nerves going into this game, as he was in the same position in 2008 when he was cruelly left out of the final squad. (more…)